Display rack for carpeting



May 25, 1 J. R. RADEK DISPLAY RACK FOR CARPETING 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 24, 1962 INVENTOR.

Jbhn B. Pads May 25, 1965 J. R. RADEK DISPLAY RACK FOR CARPETING 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 24, 1962 INVENTOR John R, Badek May 25,4965 J. R. RADEK DISPLAY RACK FOR CARPETING 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed July 24, 1962 I! IIIII lllllll ll! Ill.

IIII'IIIIIIIIIII III!!- INVENTOR. John B. Raaek 7 United States Patent 3,185,309 DISPLAY RACK FOR CARPETING John R. Radelr, Hinsdale, lll., assignor to Rcady Metal Mfg. (10., Chicago, 11]., a corporation of Illinois Filed .luly 24, 1962, Saar. No. 212,110 7 Claims. Cl. 21146) My invention relates to merchandising display racks and has to do more particularly with racks especially designed for the commercial display of carpeting and like material.

It has been customary in the ofiering of carpeting in retail stores, display rooms, etc., to show carpeting samples in a pile disposed on the floor or low table, said material being in rather large size, say about 9 x 12 feet or the like. In showing such material it is necessary that the salesman, with the exercise of considerable physical effort, throw back each individual rug or carpet to reveal each one in turn. This process might have to be repeated a number of times until the transaction is consummated.

Such procedure is exhausting to the sales person and requires a great deal of valuable floor space,

According to my invention, I provide a new and improved rack for the display of carpeting or like material whereby a maximum number of samples may be displayed in a minimum of space and with a minimum of effort. More particularly, my invention contemplates a rack wherein a plurality of samples of sheet material, such as carpeting or the like, are suspended in generally parallel vertical planes, thus utilizing a minimum of horizontal area.

A further object of my invention is to provide display means of the character referred to wherein the supporting means is normally disposed against a wall and is partly or Wholly enclosed, thus protecting the samples from dust and other contaminating material, which supporting means may be drawn out from the enclosure by simple sliding movement to a position convenient for viewing. In accordance with my invention, said samples may be moved in and out of the enclosure to and from convenient viewing position, with a minimum of effort; furthermore, a plurality of samples may be disposed in convenient viewing position at the same time for ready comparison, which is not possible by the old arrangement referred to above.

Another object of my invention provides for an improved supporting rack which will permit quick and easy engagement and disengagement with a sample of carpeting or other sheet material, whereby such samples may be readily changed as desired, such rack being designed to support such a sample in free depending relation to the rack, whereby it may be freely handled.

Still another object is to provide a combination of such a rack in sliding and detachable relation to a fixed support whereby the rack and the sample sheet carried thereby is capable of limited sliding movement as well as detachment from the support.

Various other objects and advantages will become apparent as the description proceeds.

Referring now to the drawings forming a part of this specification, and illustrating a preferred embodiment of my invention.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cabinet housing display devices embodying my invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view showing a plurality of display racks as seen in FIG. 1, said view being taken substantially along the line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of an assembled sample display holder and support for same, as seen in use in FIGS. 1 and 2 in assembled relation with others of the same kind;

FlG. 4 is a top plan view of the combination seen in FIG. 3;

" 3,185,399 Patented May 25, 1965 FIG. 5 is an elevational view showing the opposite side of the combination seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, with the parts in extended relation;

E16. 6 is an elevational view of a sample holder in Open or non-sample-engaging condition and separated from its support seen in FIGS. 3-5;

FIG. 7 is a transverse sectional view on an enlarged scale taken substantially along line 7-7 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 8 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially along line 8-8 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 9 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially along line 99 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 10 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially along line 1016 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary sectional detail taken substantially along line 11-11 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary sectional detail taken substantially along line 12-l2 of FIG. 3, and

FIG. 13 is an end elevational view taken substantially along the line 1313 of FIG. 6 with the hinged cover of the sample holder shown in a plurality of positions.

Referring first to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown here a display rack for carpeting or like sheet material, designed especially for positioning against a wall and comprising an upper section 10 for the display of a plurality of rolls 12 of carpeting or other sheet material, said rolls being arranged on parallel vertical axes, say on spindles or the like, removably mounted in racks or other suitable supporting means. Said rolls 12 may be, for example, runners of carpeting or might be any other sheet material which it is desired to display, such as wallpaper, textile fabrics, etc.

The bottom section of the cabinet, indicated generally by the numeral 15, provides for housing a plurality of sheets or swatches 18 of sheet material which may be similar to or different in character from that of the rolls 12, said sheets or swatches 18 being supported in generally parallel vertical planes by supporting devices indicated generally by the numeral 20, said supporting means being preferably of the character embodying my invention and described herebelow. Cabinet section 15 may be arranged either with the front open, as seen in FIG. 1, or if desired may be provided with doors or sliding drapes, etc., to prevent access of dust to the samples 18. In any event, it will be noted that the samples 13 are so disposed within the cabinet that any one or more may at will be slid outwardly from the cabinet for inspection, as indicated by the sample 18'.

Turning now to FIGS. 3-13, inclusive, the sample supporting devices 20 each comprise two main parts, viz., a sample holder 21 and a supporting rack member 22.

The rack 22, in the preferred embodiment shown in the drawings, is a generally L-shaped member in crosssection ('FIGS. 79) preferably formed of sheet metal or the like to provide a track for longitudinal sliding support of holder 21. Thus, rack member 22 has a main leg portion 23, a top channel comprising a web portion 24 and a relatively short flange 25 generally parallel to leg 23, and a bottom channel section formed by flange 27 parallel to leg 2-3 and web portion 26. Thus, it will be seen that rack '22 provides a relatively wide channel portion at the top and a relatively narrow channel :at the bottom.

In the top web portion 24 I provide a plurality of spaced holes 30 (FIG. 4) of any suitable size through which suitable fastening elements, such as bolts or screws, may extend to secure rack 22 to any suitable fixed supports such as crossbars 33 seen dotted in FIG. 2 and forming a part of the cabinet seen in FIG. 1.

Attached to the outside of leg 23 of rack 22, as by means of rivets, brazing, etc., is a suitable resilient detent member 35, the operation of which will become apparent herebelow. Adjacent the opposite end of the rack a tongue '37 is struck inwardly to lie in a lane generally normal to that of leg 23 and a button 38 of rubber or other resilient material is aflixed to said tongue to serve as a stop or bumper for holder 21.

Sample holder 21 is shown in detail in FIGS. 7-13, inclusive, and comprises a main part 49a and a cover part 46 1) pivotally connected together, as by a piano type hinge 42.. Said parts :are elongated and normally horizontally disposed, part 40a being slightly longer than cover 4617. Part 40a has a main plate 44 normally lying in a vertical plane and parallel to plate portion 23 of rack 22. Integral with plate 44 and extending normally from the upper extremity thereof is a ledge portion 45 and a terminal upstanding flange 45, the upper edge of which is embraced by an inverted U-shaped finishing and bearing plate 47. Also integral with plate 4-4 at the lower extremity thereof is a reverse Z-shaped flange 49.

On the outside of horizontal plate 45 and intermediate the ends thereof is an upstanding finger 52 (FIG. which, as shown, is in the form of an angular plate welded or otherwise secured to the outside of plate 45 but which might otherwise .be struck out therefrom, said finger carrying a resilient bumper 53 of rubber or other suitable material, said bumper being engageable with detent 35 of rack 22 when the sample holder 21 is drawn out to its maximum extended position as seen in FIG. 5. A flexing of the free end of the detent 35 laterally, in a forward direction as shown in FIG. 5, permits the complete withdrawal of the sample holder 21 from the supporting channel 20, as indicated in FIG. 2.

It will be seen that the U-shaped strip 47 on flange 46 closely abuts terminal flange 25 of rack 22 so as to provide easy sliding engagement between said parts longitudinally thereof, while the relatively tight loop 54 at the lower extremity of plate 44 is adapted to slide snugly Within channel 26 formed at the base of plate 23 (FIG. 8).

One or more anti-friction buttons 55 of hard plastic material or the like may be attached at longitudinally spaced intervals on the bottom of loop 54 to facilitate easy sliding of said loop 54 within channel 26. Other anti-friction elements 55 may be disposed Within channel 26 of rack 22 (FIGS. 7 and 9).

On the inside of plate member 44 and extending normally therefrom is a series of longitudinally spaced prongs 57, which prongs may be in the form of angular sheet metal members disposed in pairs and attached as by welding or the like to said plate, or may if desired be struck inwardly from said plate (FIGS. I i-13). Also at spaced intervals on the inside of holder 21 is a plurality of resilient latch. members 60 so positioned as to be adapted to extend through corresponding apertures 60a in the hinged cover plate 40b. Latch members 69 may be generally U-shaped sheet metal elements and attached as by welding to the inside of plate 45. (See FIGS. 7, 8 and 13.)

Said ,cover plate 401) extends normally in generally parallel relation to plate 44 of part 40a when the cover is closed, the lower extremity of plate 4% having a reversely bent portion 62. Extending inwardly at longitudinally spaced points on the inside of cover plate 46b is a plurality of prongs 57a. (FIG. 13.) The prongs 57a are preferably positioned between the pairs of prongs 57 so as to cooperate therewith. Said prongs 570, like the prongs 57, may be U-shaped pieces of sheet metal welded to the inside of cover plate 4012 or may be struck inwardly therefrom so as to extend normally to the plane of said plate. In the preferred arrangement said prongs 57a are positioned adjacent slots 60a and are each provided with a flange 65 (FIGS. 7, 8 and 13) extending normally to the plate and adjacent the bottom edge of the slot so as to provide a bearing surface for resilient latch member 60 when the cover member 48b is swung into closed relation to its mating member 4% to clamp the top marginal edge of a sheet or strip 18 of carpeting or other sheet material.

Adjacent one end of holder 21 a prong shaped stop member 67 extends inwardly of and normal to plate portion 44 in position to cooperate with bumper 38 of rack 22. (See FIG. 11.)

At the forward extremity of sample holder 20 is a suitable manipulating handle 70 (FIGS. 3, 5 and 6). This handle maytake various forms and may be formed of a variety of materials, but I preferably employ a handle molded of synthetic plastic material. In the preferred form shown said handle 75 comprises a channel-shaped portion 72 (FIG. 10) embracing the upper edge of plate 46 of holder part 40a, a screw 73 passing through plate 46 serving to retain the handle at this point. Integrally with channel-shaped portion 72 and extending downwardly therefrom adjacent the end of cover 40b is .a plate portion 75, while transversely offset therefrom is a plate portion 76, another screw 73a downwardly spaced from screw 73 extending through plate 76 and flange 49 and serving additionally to retain the handle on the holder 22. Plates '75 and 76 are joined by an integral,

web 77 which may extend below said plates. As seen best in FIGS. 3, 4, 5, 6 and 12 a generally rectangular cardholder 73 is provided at the forward end of the handle 70, an elongated grip 79 being undercut if desired to retain a card or the like for descriptive matter pertaining to the sample which is to be carried by a particular holder.

It is believed that, from the above description, it will be apparent that I have provided a highly convenient and advantageous arrangement for the display of samples of carpeting or other sheet material. Said samples may be readily secured within a holder 21 by swinging open the hinged cover, inserting the upper marg nal portion of the sample and then bringing the cover into closed and gripping relation to the sample, which will be pierced by the mating prongs of the holder.

The holder with the sample secured therein is then brought into sliding relation with supporting rack member 22, is pushed rearwardly into said rack 22 until detent 35 snaps into retaining positions relative to the holder. Thereafter the holder will normally 'be stored in fully recessed position Within support 22 until inspection of its sample is desired, whereupon it is grasped by the handle portion and slid forwardly until stopped by the detent. Obviously, any number of samples may be moved forwardly for inspection at the same time if desired. When inspection is not desired, the holders with their samples will be stored in fully recessed position where they are less accessible to dust and, as stated above, suitable covering means (not shown) such as sliding or hinged doors, drapes, etc., may be provided for more effective protection.

It will also be readily apparent that a sample may be readily removed from its holder for replacement with a minimum of effort Without removing the holder from its support, by merely moving the holder forwardly and opening the hinged cover of the holder, thus freeing the sample for removal.

Various changes coming within the spirit of my invention may suggest themselves to those skilled in the art; hence, I do not wish to be limited to the specific embodiments shown and described or uses mentioned, but intend the same to be merely exemplary, the scope of my invention being limited only by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A device for supporting and displaying sheet material, comprising (a) a holder for clampingly engaging a marginal portion of a swatch of sheet material,

(b) means provided with a track portion at the top thereof and a channel-like track portion at the bottom thereof for supporting said holder for horizontal sliding movement relative to said track portions,

() said holder comprising a pair of hinged plate members,

(d) one of said plate members having bearing portions at the top and bottom thereof for cooperative sliding movement with said track portions of said supporting means,

(e) the other one of said hinged plate members pivotally mounted on said one plate member to constitute a cover,

(f) said hinged plate members having cooperative sheet piercing means and cooperative latching means, whereby a sheet may be secured in depending relation to said holder when said cover is clamped to said one plate member,

(g) and cooperating means being provided on said holder and supporting means normally limiting movement of the holder to a certain distance out of said supporting means and releasable to permit full withdrawal of said holder from the supporting means.

2. A combination as in claim 1, wherein a manipulating handle is fixed to one end of said one plate member.

3. A combination as in claim 1, wherein said one plate member has means fixed to one end thereof adapted to overlie a corner portion of a sheet retained in the holder and serving as means for manipulating the holder into and out of said supporting means.

4. A device for supporting and displaying sheet material, comprising (a) a holder for clampingly engaging a marginal portion of a swatch of sheet material,

(b) means provided with a track portion at the t p thereof and a channel-like track portion at the bottom thereof for supporting said holder for horizontal sliding movement relative to said track portions,

(0) said holder comprising a pair of hinged plate members,

(d) one of said plate members having bearing portions at the top and bottom thereof for cooperative sliding movement with said track portions of said sup porting means,

(e) the other one of said hinged plate members pivotally mounted on said one plate member to constitute a cover,

(1'') said hinged plate members having cooperative sheet engaging means and cooperative latching means, whereby a sheet may be secured in depending relation to said holder when said cover is clamped to said one plate member,

(g) and cooperating means being provided on said holder and supporting means normally limiting movement of the holder to a certain distance out of said supporting means and releasable to permit full withdrawal of said holder from the supporting means.

5. A rack for supporting and displaying sheet material comprising a supporting channel of generally rectangular outline and having the configuration of an inverted L with bearing surfaces adjacent to the top and bottom thereof, a holder for clampingly engaging a top marginal portion of a swatch of sheet material, said holder comprising a casing of generally rectangular outline slidably mounted within said supporting channel and provided with surfaces on said casing adjacent to said bearing surfaces adapted for relative sliding movement between said surfaces and Withdrawal movement of said holder from one end of said supporting channel, said holder having a pivotally mounted cover for said casing disposed in a vertical plane at the open portion of the inverted L to permit the opening and closing movements of said cover, and cooperating means on said cover and casing for detachably latching them together and for clamping the top marginal portion of the sheet material within said casing.

6. An apparatus as set forth in claim 5 including flexible detent means adjacent to said one end of said supporting channel cooperating with stop means on said holder for limiting the withdrawal of said holder to a predetermined distance, and said detent means adapted to be moved from the said stop means to permit the complete withdrawal of said holder from said supporting means.

7. A rack as defined in claim 5 wherein said lastmentioned means comprises pronged projections on said cover and casing for engaging the top portion of the sheet material.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,835,744 12/31 Austin 211-46 2,066,765 1/37 Cathey 211-94 2,140,207 12/38 Martin 12923 2,323,448 7/43 Brennan 211-46 2,398,487 4/46 Zalkind 12923 2,812,067 11/57 Gussack 211-46 2,848,294 8/58 Sandberg 312234 2,851,167 9/58 Rosenberg 211-46 2,975,904 3/61 Krebs 21146 CLAUDE A. LE ROY, Primary Examiner. 

1. A DEVICE FOR SUPPORTING AND DISPLAYING SHEET MATERIAL, COMPRISING (A) A HOLDER FOR CLAMPINGLY ENGAGING A MARGINAL PORTION OF A SWATCH OF SHEET MATERIAL, (B) MEANS PROVIDED WITH A TRACK PORTION AT THE TOP THEREOF AND A CHANNEL-LIKE TRACK PORTION AT THE BOTTOM THEREOF FOR SUPPORTING SAID HOLDER FOR HORIZONTAL SLIDING MOVEMENT RELATIVE TO SAID TRACK PORTIONS, (C) SAID HOLDER COMPRISING A PAIR OF HINGED PLATE MEMBERS, (D) ONE OF SAID PLATE MEMBERS HAVING BEARING PORTIONS AT THE TOP AND BOTTOM THEREOF FOR COOPERATIVE SLIDING MOVEMENT WITH SAID TRACK PORTIONS OF SAID SUPPORTING MEANS, (E) THE OTHER ONE OF SAID HINGED PLATE MEMBERS PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ON SAID ONE PLATE MEMBER TO CONSTITUTE A COVER, (F) SAID HINGED PLATE MEMBERS HAVING COOPERATIVE SHEET PIERCING MEANS AND COOPERATIVE LATCHING MEANS, WHEREBY A SHEET MAY BE SECURED IN DEPENDING RELATION TO SAID HOLDER WHEN SAID COVER IS CLAMPED TO SAID ONE PLATE MEMBER, (G) AND COOPERATING MEANS BEING PROVIDED ON SAID HOLDER AND SUPPORTING MEANS NORMALLY LIMITING MOVEMENT OF THE HOLDER TO A CERTAIN DISTANCE OUT OF SAID SUPPORTING MEANS AND RELEASABLE TO PERMIT FULL WITHDRAWAL OF SAID HOLDER FROM THE SUPPORTING MEANS. 